UK cuts dent WS Atkins profits

WS Atkins, which is also behind the M25 motorway widening project, said the Government’s spending and strategic defence reviews were partly behind a 7% cut in UK staff numbers to 9,640 in the year to March 31.

But the Epsom-based company reported underlying profit growth across the group as the weak UK performance was offset by strong showings in the Middle East and United States.

Atkins posted a 7.5% increase in underlying operating profits to £118.7 million in the year, which excludes the cost of a recent US acquisition. UK operating profits fell to £61.4 million from £77.3 million.